Contributing to your care

We provide a range of care services to help people stay independent in their own homes for as long as possible.  Many of these services - such as reablement, crisis care, rehabilitation at home and personal care for people aged over 65 - are free.  For other services, there is a charge.

We need to revise our charging policy for some of these services.  Depending on your personal circumstances, this might mean we will ask you to contribute to the cost of your care.

Any contribution we ask you to make to the cost of your care will be based on your ability to pay.  We take into account the services you receive from us, your level of income, the level of your savings and the amount you have to pay out in essential housing costs such as rent, mortgage, council tax and insurance.  We will only ask people to pay what they can afford.

A Council officer may visit you to gather this information so we can make sure any charges are fair and accurate.  The officer will also be able to give advice and help you claim for any benefits you may be entitled to.

Questions and Answers: Contributing to your care

What are these changes about?

We provide a range of care services to help people stay independent in their own homes for as long as possible.  Many of these services - like reablement, crisis care, rehabilitation at home and personal care for people aged over 65 - are free.  There is a charge for some other services.  We need to revise our charging policy for some of these services.  Depending on your personal circumstances this might mean we will ask you to contribute to the cost of your care. 

Which care services does Stirling Council provide to help people to stay independent in their own homes for as long as possible?

The range of care services provided is personal care (hygiene, health, etc), non personal care (housework, shopping, etc), Housing Support (warden services), Meals on Wheels and MECS (Mobile Emergency Care Service).

What is the charge for these care services?

Personal Care (under 65) in your home or through day support (hourly rate) £9.60
Non Personal Care in your home or through day support (hourly rate) £9.60
Meals on Wheels (per meal) £1.90
MECS (per week) £1.63
Accommodation based Housing Support Variable

Will you have to contribute if you are aged 65 years and over?

You will not have to contribute to services that meet your personal care needs (hygiene, health, etc) as these are free to you.  However, you may be asked to contribute to services that meet your non personal care needs (housework, shopping).

Will I always have to contribute?

Any contribution we ask you to make to the cost of your care will be based on your ability to pay.

You will not have to contribute if your weekly income (after essential housing costs e.g. rent, mortgage, council tax, insurance, etc have been deducted) is less than your personal allowance which is set according to national recommendations.

What is the personal allowance?

The personal allowance is dependent on your age.

  Aged 18-59 years Aged over 60 years
If you are the only person in the household receiving services £118/week £166/week
If you and your partner are both receiving services £180/week £254/week

How will you collect my financial information?

An officer may arrange an appointment and visit to collect financial information.

What documents will I need to provide?

You will be asked to provide details about:

  • National insurance number
  • Income (benefits, occupational pension, other income)
  • Capital, savings and investments
  • Council tax, rent/mortgage
  • Buildings insurance
  • Life assurance

What if I choose not to give the Council my details?

You may be asked to contribute to the full cost of your service.

What else will the Council officer do?

The officer will help you find out if you are entitled to any other benefits, such as income support, pension credit, disability benefits, and give you advice on fuel.

What will happen if I am entitled to other benefits?

If you are entitled to other benefits and want assistance with claiming them, the officer will arrange another appointment to come back and fill in the forms with you.

What happens after the financial information is collected?

We will let you know how much you need to contribute for services received.

What if you do not think the amount you are being asked to contribute is correct?

If you think we have made a mistake with your details or if you think the contribution amount is more than you can afford, please let us know and we will check.

Financial assessments

Please see our examples of financial assessments

Charging Policy document

For further information about our Charging Policy, please view our Charging Policy document

Contact us

For further information, please contact us:

  • Telephone: 01786 443781 (available 09:00-17:00, Monday-Friday)
  • Email us

Visit us between 09:00-17:30, Monday-Friday at:

Customer First
1-5 Port Street
Stirling
FK8 2EJ


View Customer First in a larger map

Further information…